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DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
02155
tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
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RETURN TO > DATELINES > HOME
DignityUSA DATELINE
Volume 9, No. 11
November 2000
News From the DignityUSA Board Meeting
Your Board of Directors met in Washington DC Sept 29-Oct 1. Here are some of the highlights of that meeting:
- Richard Ressa, our database manager, was introduced to the Board by Mary Louise Cervone. Richard explained to the Board the work that he has been doing in behalf of Dignity in the area of membership processing.
- Budget discussion.
- Report & discussion on a Pax Nidorf Trust proposal.
- Marianne Duddy & Mary Louise gave a report on the Soulforce/Dignity event scheduled for November in DC.
- Discussion on the future of Solidarity Sunday. Sam Sinnett, director/Midwest, volunteered to coordinate Solidarity Sunday 2001.
- Fr. Tom gave a status report on the Dignity National AIDS Project.
- Marianne reported on Dignity's participation in the November Call to Action Conference in Milwaukee.
- The second half of Saturday was devoted to the Dignity re-imagining process under the guidance of Chris Pett.
- Bob Miailovich gave a report on Dignity's external ministry.
- Marianne reported on fundraising efforts in Dignity.
- Rap-up of discussion for a progress report to the membership on the Dignity Re-Imagining process.
Whereas the people of Maine, Nebraska, Nevada and Oregon will be voting on November 7, 2000, on ballot propositions which significantly affect the lives, freedom and well being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and whereas, it is important that all people express themselves on these important issues, therefore, the Board of Directors of DignityUSA urges our members and friends to support equal rights for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people and, in particular, to support in such ways as may be possible:
- a Yes vote on the Maine Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Law;
- a No vote on the Nebraska and Nevada limitation on marriage initiatives; and
- a No vote on the Oregon proposal to restrict the subject matter of public school instruction.
Whereas Solidarity Sunday has become one of the most well-known and fastest growing program of DignityUSA and Whereas this outreach now extends to over 300,000 people and whereas Bruce Jarstfer, MD, of San Antonio, TX, has been the singular driving force in the development, management and visioning of this program since 1995, therefore be it resolved that the Board of Directors of DignityUSA does hereby, on the occasion of his retirement, commend, with profound gratitude, Bruce Jarstfer, MD, for his examplary service and commitment to the members of DignityUSA and does also dedicate Solidarity Sunday, 2001, to him.
Representing DignityUSA at NGLTF Events…
DignityUSA will be well-represented during the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change Conference in Atlanta November 10-13. Past President Bob Miailovich will be part of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable meeting held there. President Mary Louise Cervone and Executive Director Marianne Duddy will facilitate and present during a workshop on mobilizing religious allies in the struggle for GLBT civil rights. In addition, the conference will provide the opportunity for our national leadership to meet with members of the Atlanta Chapter.
Bob Miailovich represented DignityUSA at the meeting of the National Policy Roundtable in Washington, DC in September. The NPR, begun in 1997, is a forum for leaders of national policy-oriented GLBT organizations to brief one another on critical issues facing the GLBT movement. A highlight of the meeting was a briefing at the National Press Club for media on GLBT issues. In its meetings, the Roundtable had an intensive discussion concerning the two major presidential candidates. The other major topics of conversation by the Roundtable were a consideration of race and racism in our organizations, and the structure and operation of the Roundtable.
New Solidarity Sunday™ Coordinator
With Bruce Jarstfer's retirement as Solidarity Sunday Coordinator, national director Sam Sinnett has volunteered to fill the vacancy. Sam, from St. Louis, MO is one of the newest members of the DignityUSA Board of Directors. He has assembled a commitee and is ready to move forward with plans for Solidarity Sunday 2001.
Dignity News Service
In our continuing efforts to provide the membership maximum access to Dignity news and information, DignityUSA is launching a new Dignity News Service. With this service it will now be possible for everyone who has an email address to receive Dignity news. This service will deliver the DignityUSA president's membership emails and press releases. This service is being provided in addition to the current Dignity Discussion Lists. The president's emails & press releases will continue to be delivered to the discussion lists as well. Unlike the discussion lists, the news service will not be an open forum.
And visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReimaginingDignity for more info on that special project.
The launch date is November 1, 2000.
MEETING WITH NCCB
A delegation from several Church reform groups, including DignityUSA, met on September 11, in Washington, DC, with Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and three senior NCCB staff members. Director-at-large Bob Miailovich represented Dignity. The focus of the meeting was a discussion of issues of mutual interest dealing with lay ecclesial ministry, married priests, and the creation of a welcoming atmosphere for gay and lesbian people in the Church. These discussions will continue at a future date.
Do you work for a company that has a matching gifts program, or that solicits employee involvement in charitable giving? If so, please consider earmarking a gift for DignityUSA. For more information, contact Marianne Duddy at DignityExecDir@aol.com.
WORLD AIDS DAY 2000
Over 34 million people have HIV/AIDS worldwide. Fr. Tom, our national AIDS project director, says all of our chapters can make an important difference in raising awareness by talking about AIDS and HIV prevention in and outside regular chapter events. The very least of which is to wear your red ribbon to show support on December 1. Since 1988, Dec. 1 has been a day for bringing messages of compassion, hope, solidarity and understanding about AIDS to every country in the world, and is the only international day of coordinated action against AIDS. Fr. Tom feels "Dignity can be a pro-active voice in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in the new millennium and it is simple things like world AIDS day programming at the chapter level that makes such a difference." Visit the World Aids Day Website: http://worldaidsday.org.
And thanks to the diligence and dedication of Fr. Tom, the CDC has awarded DignityUSA a $10,000 grant to be used at the 2001 Convention. The grant was awarded to pay for, among other things, a major speaker at the convention to address AIDS related health issues facing the world today.
DignityUSA and Soulforce
DignityUSA and Soulforce will be in Washington DC for the NCCB meeting from November 12-14 to stand together in demanding an end to spiritual violence against sexual and gender minorities. Every member will receive a letter with the details of this historic collaboration. Check your mail and check out the Soulforce website at www.soulforce.org for information and registration.
NACDLGM Conference 2000
Linda Rieder, (Dignity/Pacific Region), Bob Miailovich (Director at Large) and Pat McArron (VP, DignityUSA) represented Dignity at the September gathering of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries (NACDLGM) in Oakland, Calif. Linda, Bob & Pat spoke with and listened to several of the 170 attendees as they shared their on-going challenges in this important pastoral ministry. All members of Dignity are encouraged to join NACDLGM so that we may continue to have a prophetic voice in that organization. The next conference will be Sept 20-23, 2001 in Charlotte, NC.
Happy Anniversary!
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